Before pics of our new land.

GaMntHomestead · #1 12/31/12, 10:38 AM

It's just woods right now. We will finally get to go up on wednesday and stay for 3 or 4 days to start working on it. We bought it 2 months ago and this will be the first time we actually get to go spend time up there.
The plan is to start cutting some trees along the perimeter so we can put up a fence. And decide where we would like to put a house.
Hopefully it won't be to long before I can start posting progress pictures.

OK I posted other pics twice today, but now I can't post these. I will try again.

GaMntHomestead · #2 12/31/12, 10:48 AM

Ok got some to post!

Big Dave · #3 12/31/12, 10:54 AM

No snow, Hard woods. THINK before you proceed. I have lived at our place 13 years and know the perameters but do not hae fenc all the way around it. Trees are hard to replace. where is the water flowing when it rains? some folks moved in about three years back and clear cut the entire ridge they live on. It is an eyesore. You have been given a beautiful and wonderful place. Be a good stewart.

braggscowboy · #4 12/31/12, 11:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Big Dave

No snow, Hard woods. THINK before you proceed. I have lived at our place 13 years and know the perameters but do not hae fenc all the way around it. Trees are hard to replace. where is the water flowing when it rains? some folks moved in about three years back and clear cut the entire ridge they live on. It is an eyesore. You have been given a beautiful and wonderful place. Be a good stewart.

I am like you Dave, hate to cut a tree if not needed. Future fuel, beautiful things and make a place look so much nicer. I hate it when a person goes in and pushes everything up in a pile on 30 acres to put in a double wide, I would want to clean off for the house, leave everything until I get in and then see what all I would take out. For fence, that is different. Can't put one back after it is taken out.

GaMntHomestead · #5 12/31/12, 11:28 AM

Dave,
We are not gonna cut all the trees. But some will have to be removed for a house. The land is 5 acres, and the main reason for fencing the whole thing is to keep our dogs in, and future animals if needed. I love all the hardwoods and wanna keep as much of them as possible. Here are a few of my favorite trees already. LOL. My neice really likes one of them too. :-)

OkieDavid · #6 12/31/12, 11:38 AM

Don't plan to put the house within 30-40 feet of those favorite trees. I've seen many over the years that suffer significant root damage during construction ( foundation, water line, phone line, electric line, sewer line) that they can't recover from and then die within a few years. Murphy's law says the trees that die will be your favorites and they will all be leaning toward your house.....

GaMntHomestead · #7 12/31/12, 11:51 AM

LOL...true about Murphy's law. I know for sure 2 of those trees are safe. One being on the back of the property, where we have no plans for anything right now.
Gonna be camping on the land for several days this week, and I believe there is rain in the forcast so we will get to see how the rainwater flows. We already have an idea, as there is a ravine on the land and last time I was there it was right after a rain and I saw a path where water had flowed, and it ran right into the ravine.

dkhern · #8 12/31/12, 02:28 PM

go slow measure and drive stakes to really see layout sit and think of how you will use

when you build take careful nots on electric lines water line etc so you can locate later

ppremiter fence doesnt have to be perfectly straight you can manuver around some trees if desired
good luck and enjoy beautiful place

MushCreek · #9 12/31/12, 04:22 PM

If that's in the GA mountains, then we're right up the road in the SC mountains. Our property looks similar, and we have been 'working on it' for 6 years now. You do need to be careful around trees you want to keep. Just earth-moving equipment driving past a tree can compact the soil enough to lead to the tree dying, so tread lightly- literally.

We spent a fair amount of time reading our property in different weather and different times of the year. Due to a lack of level ground, we could only do so much with the arrangement, but we carefully oriented the house in relation to the path of the sun, and for our mountain view. Last fall, I built the barn, and we are now half way through building the house.

We were going to fence the perimeter, but a little math showed it to be over a half mile of perimeter! The more time we spend there, the less inclined we are to put up fence. If I ever have livestock, I'll have to pen them in. After some training,the dog stays around all day without supervision. We need every penny and every ounce of energy just to build the house and barn, so the fence will have to wait.

Best of luck on your venture- I look forward to following your progress!

GaMntHomestead · #10 12/31/12, 04:36 PM

dkhern- we're lucky with the electric and water lines and anything else.....cause there aren't any. LOL Power and water stops at the road till we have it ran where we decide we need it.
MushCreek-Yes the N.Ga mountains, White county near Helen. Howdy neighbor.LOL
Yes we have 5 acres and have been pricing different fence options, might end up not fencing the whole thing right away.LOL Money is tight for sure.
Thanks for the tip about the heavy equiptment, for now we will just be using a chainsaw and man power.....unless my bil wants to let us use his tractor. :-)

#11 12/31/12, 07:40 PM

Is that heart carved into that tree or is it a natural blemish ?

shannsmom · #12 12/31/12, 11:01 PM

That is beautiful land! Congratulations!

Dale Alan · #13 01/01/13, 03:22 AM

Very nice,congrats !

OkieDavid · #14 01/01/13, 07:56 AM

I forgot to add, that is a beautiful piece of property sure to give you years of enjoyment. Stock up on muscle rub, leather gloves, bandaids and tylenol........oh, and muscle rub.....

greg_n_ga · #15 01/01/13, 08:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GaMntHomestead

dkhern- we're lucky with the electric and water lines and anything else.....cause there aren't any. LOL Power and water stops at the road till we have it ran where we decide we need it.
MushCreek-Yes the N.Ga mountains, White county near Helen. Howdy neighbor.LOL
Yes we have 5 acres and have been pricing different fence options, might end up not fencing the whole thing right away.LOL Money is tight for sure.
Thanks for the tip about the heavy equiptment, for now we will just be using a chainsaw and man power.....unless my bil wants to let us use his tractor. :-)

Hello from across the ridge in Rabun County !! And welcome to the area !!

GaMntHomestead · #16 01/01/13, 08:10 AM

The heart on the tree is a natural blemish. :-)

GaMntHomestead · #17 01/01/13, 08:20 AM

I want to thank everyone for the advice, I will remember everything and apply it as we go along. Good advice for the care and considerations of the trees and about staking out the house(cabin) and watching how things work with the placement.
Greg-I love Rabun County! It sure is beautiful there, and I was on the lookout for land there also. And even though I didn't find any I could afford(lol) since I will be "in the mountains" I will get to visit Rabun alot more now. :-).
So Okie, what do ya think? Should I buy some muscle rub? ;-). Hehe. Good advice, I am hurting just thinking about all the work it takes to build up a homestead from scratch.
Thanks again everyone!
Happy New Year!

Windgefluester · #18 01/01/13, 08:21 AM

oh wow a lot of work, i love your little niece oh my she is such a sweetheart!!!!!

LittleRedHen · #19 01/01/13, 08:24 AM

its pretty

greg_n_ga · #20 01/02/13, 06:19 AM

The lakes along with the county being mostly USFS lands makes private land scarce over here !!